Register NOW for Winter 2012 Classes at Arts Guild New Jersey

Registration is now open for Winter classes for adults, teens (ages 12-16), and children (ages 7–11) at Arts Guild New Jersey (formerly The Arts Guild of Rahway). Winter classes begin the week of January 14th, 2011, including several exciting new options, in addition to many familiar classes. Whether students are challenging themselves by taking their skills to the next level, or trying a new technique for the first time, there is something for everyone at Arts Guild New Jersey.

In addition to new classes, the Arts Guild will be utilizing a newly renovated studio classroom space on the corner of Esterbrook and Milton Avenues in Rahway.

For complete course descriptions and class schedules, access the online course catalog at www.agnj.org (Art Classes page) or call (732) 381-7511 to request a printed flyer. You will notice class locations specified next to each class description: either 1670 Irving for our traditional Arts Guild building on Irving Street, or 125 W. Milton, for our brand new Annex space on Milton Avenue.

Registration is accepted online, as well as in-person or by mail. To register in person, visit the office at 1670 Irving Street in Rahway, on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday, from 9:00 AM – 12 noon or from 1:00 – 4:00 PM (please use parking lot entrance). Cash and check payments are accepted in person or by mail; credit card payments are accepted online only.

Daytime adult classes include Drawing from Life & Photos, an introduction to the fundamentals of composition, perspective, proportion, positive/negative space, value, and texture, using still life and reference materials; Expressive Watercolor, in which students create vibrant paintings in their own personal style; and Oil Painting: Basics & Beyond, where students focus on composition/design, under-painting, color theory and color mixing, and using transparent glazes. Daytime adult classes run weekly for two and a half hours each morning (10:00 AM – 12:30 PM), for eight weeks. All levels welcomed.

Two choices for adult drawing classes are offered in the evening: Drawing the Human Figure, a class for artists who want to improve observational drawing skills and understand the basic anatomy and proportions of the human figure by working from a live model, and Open Studio Life Drawing, sessions in which artists work, without an instructor, from different live male and female models each week, in short and long poses.

The Arts Guild offers evening adult painting classes in various mediums.  Watercolor teaches students to create vivid, original works of art with an emphasis on color, blending, composition, precision, form, light, shade and the use of brushes. Acrylic Painting demonstrates traditional methods, from washes and glazing with acrylic medium, to the use of gels and additives for texture. Painting with Oils is a study of technical, formal, and creative aspects of painting original artworks with oils from still life displays, landscape, and other inspirational sources.

Beginning Stained Glass and Intermediate/Advanced Stained Glass emphasize the skills of glass-cutting, foil wrapping, soldering and finishing techniques to make lampshades, stained glass window panels or even stained glass sculptural pieces and holiday ornaments, in two separate classes designed for your skill level.

The Arts Guild will also be offering two exciting new adult classes in the evening: 3-D Design and 2-D Design Fundamentals. 3-D Design examines the relationship between objects and the space in which they exist, through the construction of three-dimensional projects employing a variety of media. In 2-D Design students will broaden their understanding of visual organization, from concepts like form and color to more complex issues of perception, abstraction, and pattern.

For adult classes, students are responsible for their own materials. Supply lists are distributed upon registration. Most evening classes run for 2.5 hours weekly, for eight weeks.

Teen classes at Arts Guild New Jersey include Drawing, with a curriculum designed to build skills in drawing still life objects, landscapes, and basic figure drawing, and Sculpture/3-D Art, where students use wood, cardboard and found materials to create sculpture while learning about design and composition of forms in space. On Saturdays students can choose Painting for Teens, which covers everything from composition to color mixing, working from various subjects using acrylic paint, or Japanese Anime/Manga Style Cartooning, where students learn the techniques of this popular cartooning and animation style to make their own comic art. All teen classes include materials.

Kids classes include Sculpture for Kids, where students build three-dimensional objects out of cardboard, paper maché, wire, modeling clay and other materials and the popular Drawing Exploration, which builds students’ skills in drawing realistic and imaginary objects, people and landscapes, while tapping into their creativity and imagination. These children’s classes run weekly during after school hours (4:00 – 5:30 PM). The Arts Guild now also offers a Saturday class for kids: Cartooning, where students tell a simple story in pictures, creating a comic panel or comic strip page. Materials for all children’s classes are provided.

The Arts Guild will offer three in-depth one-day adult workshops this Winter on Saturdays. Encaustic Painting will be held on February 25th, 2012, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and will include collage, stenciling, painting, and a variety of other uses for this wax medium to create several original pieces. Quick, gestural, and full of vibrant energy, Alla Prima Painting Technique captures the essence of the subject matter with just a few well-placed strokes. Students will learn to paint with ‘bravura’ during this workshop on March 3rd, 2012, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Intended for students with some life drawing experience, Dynamic Figure Drawing and Anatomy will push student’s drawing abilities to the next level by learning to capture the essence of the model’s gesture on paper. Some anatomy will also be addressed during this workshop on March 10th, 2012, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

All class space is limited, so early registration is encouraged to ensure enrollment. Members receive a $15 discount on adult classes and a $10 discount on classes for children and teens. To become a member visit www.agnj.org and click on the Membership link. Members also receive incentives such as advance notice and reduced rates on special event tickets, discounted entry fees, and other VIP opportunities. The Arts Guild also offers a Refer-a-friend discount to help you save money.

Call (732) 381-7511, email artsguild1670@verizon.net, or visit www.agnj.org for more information.

ABOUT ARTS GUILD NEW JERSEY

Arts Guild New Jersey is a non-profit multi-disciplinary arts center located in the downtown Arts District in the City of Rahway, with a mission to provide quality arts programs for the benefit of the Northern and Central New Jersey area. Each year the Guild presents: a fine art exhibition series; a jazz series; multi-week art class sessions in the winter, spring and fall for adults, teens, and children; an on-going series of adult art workshops; summer art workshops for kids; and a variety of other cultural events and activities. Arts Guild New Jersey is accessible from the Garden State Parkway, NJ Turnpike, Routes 1 & 9, Saint Georges Avenue, and NJ Transit via the Northeast Corridor and Jersey Shore lines.

Sponsors of this program include Northfield Bank Foundation and Investors Savings Bank Charitable Foundation.